Feb 26, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) drives between Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (left) and guard Stephen Curry (30) in the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
CLEVELAND — LeBron James’ candidacy for Most Valuable Player was slow to gain traction this season, but with seven weeks left, that might soon start changing.
The star forward scored a season-high 42 points, guard Kyrie Irving scored 24 and the Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors 110-99 Thursday for their 18th victory in 20 games.
Despite winning four MVP awards, James has gone largely unnoticed this season with Warriors guard Steph Curry and Houston guard James Harden garnering most of the attention. However, James outscored and outplayed Curry on Thursday, scoring more points than both Splash Brothers combined. Curry scored 18 points and guard Klay Thompson had 13 for the Warriors, who lost for the second time in three games. They hadn’t dropped two games this close together since Christmas.
Curry managed just six points after the first quarter and shot 1-for-9 in the second half, while Thompson was a non-factor most of the night. Curry’s final shot was indicative of his evening: an airball in the final minute when the outcome already was decided.
“If you ask me there’s no discussion about the MVP if he’s not involved in it,” Cavaliers coach David Blatt said of James. “Stephen has had a fabulous year and he’s a great player and he’s deserving of all the credit that he’s been getting and certainly deserving to be a front-runner for that award. But so is our guy.”
The Cavs opened a 16-point lead in the third quarter, the Warriors’ deepest deficit in more than three weeks. The Dallas Mavericks led by 22 against them, but in another sign of the Warriors’ might, Curry scored 51 points and Golden State still won that night by 14.
Not this time.
Forward Kevin Love had 16 points and eight rebounds, and center Timofey Mozgov had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavs (37-22). Center Tristan Thompson had 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Forward David Lee scored 19 points off the bench for the Warriors (44-11), while forward Draymond Green had 16 points, eight rebounds and five steals.
These teams met previously in early January, but it was Mozgov’s first game with the Cavs and guard J.R. Smith’s second. James and guard Iman Shumpert were both injured, yet the Cavs still remained competitive until the final minutes, when the Warriors finally blew it open.
The Cavs are so far improved from that version, however, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he didn’t even bother watching the film from that game in preparation for Thursday. The Cavaliers equally insisted they weren’t taking Thursday’s game as a measuring stick to see how they compare to the league’s elite.
“I don’t think we need to go through any litmus tests,” Blatt said. “I think we know what we’re capable of doing, and I think we’ve shown that.”
Irving departed with 1:54 left in the third quarter and headed to the locker room with his left shoulder dangling. He eventually returned to the game in the fourth quarter after the team said he just got his shoulder “bumped.”
NOTES: Warriors G Klay Thompson and Cavs F Kevin Love were childhood friends because their families were close. They even played on the same Little League All-Star teams. Both of their fathers are also former NBA players. … Warriors coach Steve Kerr was asked if he ever misses sitting on the sideline and calling games like this one for television as he used to do. “I had a cup of coffee with Marv Albert today and 30 minutes with Marv is plenty,” Kerr joked. “Two hours on a telecast was way too much. I hope somebody sends that to TNT.” … Cavs F LeBron James did not want to get back into comments he made previously about his 10-year-old son, LeBron James Jr., already getting the attention of college scouts. “My son is going to be a kid as long as he can be. That’s all he needs to worry about,” James said.
